A fast paced, page turning thriller that has moments of suspend your disbelief BUT I enjoyed the journey! Rounded up from a 3.5 to a 4 star for me.

The three main characters are not reliable, not always likable and so frustrating BUT again I couldn't stop reading about them....a good sign for me!

Great plot twists - plural - some you saw coming and others - were out of the blue and so fun!

Would recommend for a rainy weekend - when you can curl up and read uninterrupted!!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts

The Note by Alafair Burke was so good!! If you like mysteries, thrillers, lifelong friendships, and pranks gone wrong then you will love this book!!

This is my first book by Alafair and I cannot wait to read more. This story is about 3 women who met at summer camp, go through a tragedy while there, and have been friends ever since. After not seeing each other for over a year they decide to go on a trip to the Hamptons together. After a night out of dinner and drinking one of them decided to prank a couple of strangers and this pranks lands them in the middle of a police investigation. They’ve all been through some scandals and have secrets that want to keep but with everything going on in this book it was hard to know if these friends were going to keep these secrets or end their friendships. This book had me hooked from page one, it was suspenseful, and kept me guessing. Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Just when I thought I had it all figured out—bam! Another twist came out of nowhere and sent me spiraling in a completely different direction. Every chapter had me second-guessing everything I believed to be true. I changed my mind about the killer, the accomplices, and even who the real victims were more times than I can count. This book is like an intricate puzzle where every piece seems to fit… until you realize you’ve been looking at the wrong picture the whole time. The suspense had me hooked, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!

The way this story unfolds is nothing short of masterful. Every revelation feels like pulling back another layer of deception, only to uncover even more hidden truths. Just when I thought I was getting close to the heart of the mystery, the rug was pulled out from under me again. And the root of it all? I genuinely didn’t see it coming for most of the book. If you love a story that keeps you guessing until the very last page, this one is an absolute must-read!

A gripping thriller that masterfully explores the complexities of lifelong friendships tested by dark secrets and unforeseen consequences. Set against the backdrop of a Hamptons getaway, we follow three friends whose seemingly harmless prank turns into a tangled web of lies and suspicion. Burke's sharp writing and intricate plotting keep you guessing until the very end, making it hard to put down. If you're a fan of suspenseful narratives that explore the themes of trust and betrayal, this book is a must-read.

I absolutely enjoyed this book. At first I thought it was one of the girls that did it and then it changed to her dad because I was like no this makes all the sense. Then at the end I did not see that coming! I guess this is one thing about thrillers that I enjoy is because I always keeps me on my toes!

Three friends get away to the Hamptons. But when they end up in the middle of a police investigation, all their secrets begin to unravel.

A popcorn thriller, women behaving badly. It was okay, but the trope has been done better.

I have read most of Alafair Burke's novels and always enjoy them. This was no different. I enjoyed piecing the puzzle together and seeing where she takes up with these characters.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. I love Alafair Burke's books, although if I hadn't known who the author was, I'm not sure I would have recognized it as being one of hers, and I don't really know quite why that is. The storyline was great and was the kind that I like, where you can't help but try to guess who did it. A lot of times the author gives hints about who it was, but if she did, they were subtle enough that this person was on my radar, but I never had that aha minute before the final revelation. But it wasn't like it was some character somebody passed in the street on page 6 so you could never have guessed, which I always find disappointing. I read this a while ago and didn't realize that I hadn't reviewed it yet, so the fact that I remember it so well (I read A LOT of books) is a testament to how good the story was.

The book was okay I ended up dnf ingot 50% in the book was okay but I just couldn't get into it but I think it may be for somebody else

I really enjoyed this book. It had me guessing to the very end. I love a good book that grips you and surprises you at the end. This book delivered this for sure. A unlikely friendship that survived into adulthood from 3 very different women, what could possibly go wrong when they decide to meet up like old times? Well really anything when everyone seems to be hiding something.

Excellent who done it, i highly recommend reading. Three besties, three murders. May is unable to let a mystery go by without overthinking it. Lauren is the older of the group, keeping them together. Kelsey is the rich victim with murder ruining her life.

This is the first book I’ve read by Alafair Burke. The Note’s plot is so intriguing but I’m not going to recap they synopsis. Each character has secrets & a past that leaves a “black cloud” around them. Personally, I didn’t think any of the characters were very likable. I felt like some of the content became repetitive with telling of the past. Some chapters in the beginning were boring but the second half of the book was more interesting. I’ll try a different book from this author & hope that it keeps my attention the whole time.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, & the author for voluntarily letting me read this book & give my honest opinion.

The Note by Alafair Burke is a gripping psychological thriller that expertly weaves together themes of friendship, loyalty, and the hidden truths that can surface when old wounds are reopened. The novel follows May Hanover, a well-behaved and rule-abiding woman who has spent her life following the path laid out by her demanding mother. Growing up, May was always the responsible one, the "Little Sheriff" in her circle of friends—Lauren and Kelsey.

But even the most upstanding people have their secrets. May’s seemingly perfect life, shaped by her need to meet everyone’s expectations, hides a past full of regrets and unsaid truths. The three friends’ bond, rooted in their childhood, has survived tragedy, scandals, and loss. Yet when they reunite in the Hamptons for a relaxing getaway, their shared history begins to unravel after a seemingly innocent prank leads to a disastrous turn of events.

The novel takes a dark turn when a chance encounter with strangers triggers an unexpected series of events, thrusting the trio into a police investigation. As May finds herself at the center of the crisis, the tight-knit friendship she shares with Lauren and Kelsey begins to feel less certain. Is everything as it seems? Or are her friends hiding dangerous secrets that threaten to destroy everything May thought she knew about them?

Alafair Burke masterfully builds tension throughout the novel as May is forced to confront the fragility of her friendships and question her loyalty to those she has always trusted. The intricate layers of suspense keep you hooked as you navigate the shifting dynamics between the characters, who must all grapple with their own moral dilemmas and dark pasts.

The Note is a psychological thriller that explores the complexities of friendship, guilt, and trust, with a plot full of twists that keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you enjoy stories about secrets that surface under pressure and characters forced to confront their past mistakes, this novel is sure to captivate you until the very last page.

This story is one that is not unique to the thriller world, but was told in a compelling way and still kept me guessing! I would recommend.

May, Lauren and Kelsey are out on a girls weekend. They decide to play what they think is a harmless prank on a couple who have made them angry and it sets a horrible chain of events into motion. These girls have been friends for a long time, but this situation makes it apparent that they don’t know each other as well as they thought they did.

I have read all of Alafair Burke’s previous books and have liked all of them and this is no exception. While it was not my favorite of hers it was still enjoyable.

Here’s what I didn’t like. I felt that they focused a little too much on events in the past. There was a build up of some situations that had happened and once it was revealed it was kind of a let down and ended up having no bearing on the story itself and added nothing in my opinion. This book was only 300 pages and it honestly could have had 50 pages taken out without affecting the story. That would have made the it more concise and action packed.

Here’s what I liked. I thought the premise was interesting. I liked the idea of these 3 childhoods friends didn’t know as much about each other as they believed.
The writing in this book was great as well. I got a really clear picture of the characters and they all seemed believable.
In the end I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to someone who is new to suspense/thrillers. I think someone who reads a lot of heavy thrillers may find this a little light.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

this entertaining haunting book is filles with interesting complex characters. Lots of twists and turns, scandals and heartbreak, mystery surround May's two friends.This book is a real pager turner, unpredictable events and a must read!

This book doesn’t pick up until 50% in and I’m using the term “pick up” very generously. Also the twist was predictable, I guessed it immediately.

Thank you #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The story revolves around three childhood friends—May, Lauren, and Kelsey—who have naturally drifted in different directions as they’ve grown older. May serves as the central protagonist, while Lauren and Kelsey play supporting yet integral roles in the unfolding drama. All three characters come from privileged backgrounds, and while they exhibit a keen ability to critique each other’s flaws, they often lack self-awareness when it comes to their own. My favorite part was the raw and real relationships in the book. It wasn’t your average girl friend group there was definitely some issues between them and I really enjoyed that. Not all friendships are roses and butterflies and I enjoyed how the author really conveyed that here. Everyone had their secrets and pasts. Josh’s character really annoyed me, he was a walking red flag and I think that is how the author purposely conveyed him but reading about him just irked me. Throughout the whole book I had an idea of who the killer was but again I was wrong, the twist at the end got me. Overall an enjoyable read. Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher.

I find it very hard to believe many of you who rated this higher than two stars actually read the same book as I did. But then again, there is no accounting for taste….. This book was honestly an abomination.

The main character, May Hanover, is insufferable. Her selfishness, appalling (lack of) social skills and her endless stream of complaints and self pity made her the most annoying fictional character since Rachel Zane on Suits - both May and Rachel were miserable malcontents and troublemakers. May’s obsession with referencing the pandemic was also unnecessary and weird. She had no redeeming qualities, nor did this book.

I am amazed no one else has mentioned the excruciatingly cringeworthy dialogue. Burke’s attempt to use Millennial slang was a failure of epic proportions. The characters sounded much more like stereotypical Gen Z-ers - zero self awareness regarding their shortcomings, with nothing ever being their fault. Alafair would have done well to focus on an age group she is actually familiar with, because the slang she used was from 5 years ago. It sounded like she played a game of telephone with a younger person and got it all wrong. To use modern slang *correctly*: it gave me The Ick.

Just one example of the incredible corniness of the book: the NYT’s Spelling Bee as a daily bonding ritual for three adult friends was beyond odd and really corny. It would have been that way at any age, but it was especially unrealistic for women in their late thirties and mid forties.

The Note was torturous, but I’m not a quitter, so I finished it in one night. Not because it was good, but bc I had a glimmer of hope that it would get better. (It did not.) I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys painfully horrible dialogue, overall corniness, getting The Ick from said corniness, convoluted plots, and subpar descriptions and imagery,

If you’re into twisty, character-driven thrillers, The Note totally delivers. It follows May Hanover, the ultimate good girl turned reluctant rule-breaker, who reunites with her childhood best friends for a weekend in the Hamptons. But a prank gone wrong turns into something way more serious, and suddenly May’s questioning everything she thought she knew about the people closest to her.

This book was sharp, fast-paced, and packed with secrets, but what really got me was the emotional depth: how friendship, guilt, and pressure collide in messy, believable ways.